Rita Clark Erck passed away April 3rd, 2012. She was born in Celina, Texas, May 17, 1920, the daughter of Binkley and Elsie Stallcup. At the age of six years, her parents were killed in a train accident, and she grew up in the loving home of her grandparents, Dr. and Mrs. R L. Clayton.
She attended and graduated from Celina High School. After attending Texas Women’s University one year, she married Amos Clark. After living a year in Ft. Worth, the couple moved to the farm Rita inherited near Celina. There they raised various crops, birds and animals, but their pride and joys were their three sons.
She enjoyed being active in the Baptist Church, the school and community and treasured all her friends. Rita enjoyed singing and playing the piano as much as the ones who heard her.
In 1961 Amos and Rita moved to McKinney where she found new friends in the First Baptist Church, at work and in the community. She was on the board of the Red Cross and pianist for the Lions Club for twelve years. She was employed as a receptionist at the new Collin Memorial Hospital and then as a salesperson at Johnson Furniture.
In 1973 she opened her own custom drapery shop Rita Clark Interiors. She enjoyed and took pride in every part of the business, the customers and the fine women who worked with her.
She is survived by sons, Amos Clark and wife Barbara of Trenton, Texas, Capt. Richard Clark and wife Deanna of San Diego, California; daughter-in-law, Jan Clark of Crosby, Texas; grandchildren, Amos Clark, III and wife Sherry of Leonard, Texas, Joe Clark and wife Kim of Crosby, Texas, Stephanie Pate and husband Mitch of Crosby, Texas, Richard Clark, Jr. and wife Kristina of Corpus Christi, Texas, Ronda Chapman and husband Dan of San Diego, California, Rob Clark and wife Laura of McKinney, Texas; thirteen great-grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; cousin, Pat Whitaker and husband Whit of Dallas, Texas; many other loving family members and friends.
Rita is preceded in death by her parents, J.B. and Elsie Stallcup; husband, George Erck; first husband, Amos Clark; son, Robert “Bob” Clark; and brother, Jim Stallcup.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 10, 2012, at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Chapel in Allen, Texas. Interment will follow at Old Celina Cemetery in Celina, Texas. The family will receive friends during a visitation on Monday evening, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow, Allen, Texas.